Clement backs ‘longer term’ Rangers plan with new deal

Philippe Clement is confident he will get time and patience in the Rangers manager’s job after signing a contract extension until the summer of 2028.

The 50-year-old Belgian joined the Ibrox club in October, winning the League Cup and finishing as runner-up in the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup.

Clement highlighted the areas he had discussed with the board that led to his new deal, including transfers, “thinking more longer term” and “infrastructure”.

The new contract for the former Club Bruges and Monaco boss – announced on the eve of the first weekend of the new Premiership season – adds another 12 months to the terms he agreed on arrival at Rangers after his immediate two predecessors had relatively short spells in charge.

“Yes, that was also the reason of the contract to do it from both sides,” he explained. “It was not to get much more wages or something.

“There is more clarity and it’s more secure to work for longer term and that’s also what the club needs. The most successful clubs in the world are the ones where managers were five, six, seven, eight years because there’s consistency.

“If every year or every six months starts with a new story then it becomes difficult after a while, because what is the story at the end?

“And the good thing is that I feel here that we are aligned about a lot of things. And the club felt the same. So what is the reason not to go for a longer story together?”

Clement has been rebuilding his squad, with experienced players Connor Goldson, Ryan Jack, Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, Sam Lammers and Kemar Roofe among the summer departures.

Connor Barron, Vaclav Cerny, Jefte, Clinton Nsiala and Robin Propper are among the new players recruited so far in the summer window.

Rangers kick off their Premiership campaign away to Hearts on Saturday at 12:30 BST.

And Clement said: “I’m 200% sure we’re going to be much better in October and November, December and the months coming after.

“It’s a squad with a lot of potential, more potential than there was last season. We’re not there yet.”

Rangers captain James Tavernier has been linked with a move away from Ibrox and Clement said of the 32-year-old right-back: “In the moments you don’t win everything, everybody looks at the captain – that’s part of the job.

“He fits that role well because he can manage that. I’ve seen in the past a lot of people break in that situation.

“He had one disadvantage last season, that he played all the games. That’s also my responsibility. In moments he was not as fresh as what he should be, so that’s something we want to change for this season.

“But of course, the people who have to play that position also they need to be fit. So I think Tav can make a really strong season and he’s really hungry for that. I’m very confident he’s going to play a strong season.”